2001. I remember it well. Loved the thought of flying but knew the inner ear is shot so bought a flight sim instead
. After downloading I was in my element for years. Joined a squad and became obsessed. It was a funny night when I downloaded teamspeak. I didn't want to activate it because I thought that I would have children in my ear whilst flying. Couldn't believe that everyone in my squad were grown men, around my age.
Absolutely loved having squad nights against other squads throughout the world. Went out and paid $6000 for a new comp specifically to fly IL2. That lasted years and years. Also purchased rudder pedals.
Loved jumping in the COOP area in Hyperlobby with others. As with squad nights, it caused me to fly differently because I didn't want to get shot down quickly.
Since CoD, I haven't been back to IL2. Just wanting CoD to get up to par and then get back into a squad and fly against other squads. Can't wait.